When mixing colors with an acrylic brush, mastering some tricks can help painters more efficiently blend the desired colors and enhance the expressiveness of the picture. The following are some practical tips for use:
First, basic knowledge of color matching
Three primary colors and secondary colors:
The three primary colors of acrylic painting are red, yellow and blue. Theoretically, all the colors of the pigments can be mixed.
When every two primary colors are mixed, three secondary colors can be formed: red + yellow = orange, red + blue = purple, blue + yellow = green.
Multi-tone matching:
Mixing a secondary color with one of the primary colors can form a compound color. For instance, red + purple = purplish red, red + orange = orange-red, red + green = ochre, etc.
Second, the trick of mixing colors
The use of the palette:
Use a color palette (or color paper) to mix colors and keep the canvas clean.
On the palette, you can first squeeze out two or more colors separately, and then gently stir them with a brush until the colors are well mixed.
Control the proportion of pigments:
By adjusting the proportions of different colors on the palette, various tones and lightness can be obtained.
For example, adding more yellow can make orange lean towards a warm color, while adding more red will make orange lean towards a cool color.
Use white to adjust the depth:
Any acrylic paint can be adjusted in depth after adding white.
The more white is added, the lighter the color becomes and the closer it is to white.
Avoid excessive mixing:
Be careful not to over-mix the colors to avoid a cloudy effect.
You can first mix the general colors on the palette and then make further adjustments on the canvas.
Try multiple color combinations:
Don’t limit yourself to the basic color-matching formulas. Try various color combinations and you might discover new color combinations.
For example, mixing blue and green can yield different shades of cyan. Mixing red and yellow can yield different orange tones.
Third, precautions during color mixing
Keep the brush clean:
When mixing colors, it is necessary to clean the brush in time to avoid color mixing.
The brush can be cleaned with clean water or a special brush cleaner.
Control the consistency of the pigment:
The consistency of acrylic paint will affect the color mixing effect.
If the pigment is too thick, a medium (such as acrylic blending liquid) can be added appropriately to dilute it.
Observe the color of the finished painting:
When adjusting the color, always observe the color of the final painting to ensure that it meets your expectations.
You can first mix small patches of color on the palette and then apply them to the canvas to observe the effect.
Fourth, the practice of color-matching techniques
Start from the basic tones:
For beginners, it is advisable to start practicing color-matching skills from the basic tones.
After mastering the basic tones proficiently, gradually try complex color schemes.
Record the color-matching result:
When mixing colors, you can record the result of each color mixing and the proportion of colors used.
This can help oneself accumulate color-matching experience and improve color-matching ability.
Reference color theory:
Understanding color theory is helpful for better mastering color-matching skills.
Color theory encompasses fundamental concepts such as the three primary colors, three secondary colors, and multiple colors of color, as well as the principles and techniques of color matching.